Exactly, I describe it as you crash, the bike generally hits the ground slides and stops. A quad is like lying on a giant craps table when you crash. You are at the mercy of the giant cube bouncing behind you.

 

Thanks for all of your input. I will probably get my boy started on a dirtbike for a couple of years and then we could graduate to a quad if it makes sense. Aside from the injury factor, I also like the fact that a dirtbike will represent a lesser investment up front.

I appreciate your comments.

Doug

 

I would get him a quad, Just from what i seen out on the trail. The guys that ride the dirt bike have to have their feet down all the time it seems when they go through mud or sand. just my two cents.

And for the record both of them are safe if you have the right trianing. and they are both dangerous.

 

A quad is alot more easier and safer to ride off road then a dirt bike would be. I own both and started out on a dirt bike. When I finally got into quads, I noticed I was able to ride with more confidence on trails that had rocks all over it, cross muddy creeks without getting stuck and worrying about having to pull dirt bike out of mud and using up all my strength. Going up hills is easier with a quad, riding in the snow is safer on a quad, being able to go through 2 ft plus of water without stalling, and having the ability to ride through tall grass without worrying about hitting a hidden pot hole and crashing. Unless one rides irresponsible on a quad, like going fast and making sudden quick turns, and not paying attention to low branches, over all a quad is alot more fun and safer to ride. Places where I ride, where it is swampy, a dirt bike would easily wipe out, and trails that have alot of stones on them I would have to ride alot slower because of only two wheels vs four.

Quads are also more comfortable to ride off road vs a dirt bike, provided you have IRS. Only benefit a dirt bike has is faster acceleration and top speed. Also a quad basically will go where dirt bikes can't. Like swampy wet lands, through the mud, through the snow, through trails faster that have alot of rocks on them. More stable going up steep inclines, can go through 2 ft plus of water without stalling. Places I ride my atv, if I was on my dirt bike I would need to have both feet down to prevent me from wiping out.

 

I think a lot of your confidence on a quad came from starting on a bike. At least it did for me.

 

Well I didn't mean an ATV was a "safe" alternative..... I was just saying that a 12 year old who has NEVER ridden a dirt bike would have a much tougher time staying off the ground on a bike than he would on an ATV....... If he really wants a bike get one, but the original post sounded like he was on the fence.

 

I didn't mean to sound like a dick... I think learning to balance a bike will only give you that much of an advantage on a quad.

 

Bikes are easy to ride, even though I have many years of riding motorcycles under my belt, I still found it some what challengiing in riding up certain type of steep, rocky inclines as well with balance issues on steep inclines. With an ATV it's nothing conquering these inclines. For someone starting out on an atv it doesn't take much to learn how to operate one and know the limits. It would be alot easier for someone to ride a atv vs a dirt bike if they never operated any of them before. For riding on the roads, I would prefer a bike, and it also feels much more stable vs an atv on the road, but I also have very aggressive tires (ITP 589's) so operating the atv on asphalt feels choppy and going over 35 feels kinds unstable, but operating it at that speed off road is a different story.

 

Oh I totally agree.....but I am assuming that the kid knows how to ride a bicycle which will have already taken care of a lot of the balance issues. I was considering the fun factor more than anything else....... On an ATV he might spend less time falling down and more time having fun.

I've found that the learning curve on an ATV is faster, and yet slower. What I mean by that is that people can learn the basics faster, but it often takes longer to learn all the limits of the machine.... And you have to know those limits a lot more in order to stay safe....

A bike has a longer learning curve at the start, but it levels of quicker, because you have that "step off" feature. If you make a mistake on a bike you fall down, or you walk off...at slow speeds they are much safer IMO. On an ATV a mistake can get you into serious danger even at slow speeds.

Of course it all depends on the person too..... I cannot ride a bike for crap, I'm horrible.....yet I used o race BMX so its not a balance issue.... Its more of the fact that I just love ATVs so much more that I never spent the time to really learn a dirt bike.... Which is odd since I'm a huge fan of AMA Motocross/Supercross, and even worked on the pit crew of a pro rider..... But I cannot ride a dirt bike even 1/4 as good as I can ride a quad......

 

Very well put.